New Orleans, LA — Education Reform Now Louisiana (ERN LA), a state chapter of the national nonpartisan think tank and advocacy organization Education Reform Now (ERN), today released its 10-Year Impact Report, highlighting a decade of progress advancing equity and opportunity for students and families across Louisiana.
Founded in 2015, ERN LA was created to tackle Louisiana’s enduring challenges in public education: persistent opportunity gaps, inequitable access to resources, and systemic barriers to student success. Over the past decade, ERN LA and its partners — Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERN-A) and Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) — have worked alongside more than 100 partners to advance bold policy solutions, elevate education champions at every level of government, and improve outcomes for students of color and students from low-income families.
“What began as a bold idea to challenge the status quo has grown into a dynamic organization impacting policies across the public education continuum, supporting 100 education champions up and down the ballot, and collaborating with over 100 partners to drive lasting change,” said Terrence Lockett, DFER LA’s Executive Director.
“This report is more than a reflection on what we’ve accomplished — it is a testament to what we can achieve together,” Lockett continued. “Each step forward has been shaped by the dedication of our team, the vision of our national organization, and the unwavering support of [our] partners.”
Highlights from the 10-Year Report include:
- > Supporting more than 100 education champions in elections across Louisiana.
- > Partnering with over 100 local and national organizations to advance policies rooted in equity, innovation, and student success.
- > Advocating across five core policy areas: Public School Choice, Resource Equity, Talent Recruitment and Retention, Increasing Access to Higher Education, and Rigorous Standards and Accountability.
- > Building on the lessons of post-Katrina education reform in New Orleans while pushing statewide solutions to close opportunity gaps.
Louisiana has made important gains since Hurricane Katrina, but systemic inequities remain. ERN LA’s vision for the next decade centers on ensuring every student — regardless of background or circumstance — has access to high-quality schools and the tools to thrive in today’s economy.